The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-10-07

A sickening sensation of dread and
doubt crept over Jordan. he rose and
caught his horse. Come down to my
room with me aud stop for dinner, then
60 down to the Fork in the COO
Of the evening, Hayward. l wan,
to ask you about the fellows and . hun
dred things. You're the first one I've
seen since our commencement day"
Hayward assented, and they com
menced the precipitous descent of the
hill. Both horses went down with
slow caution until the neared the foo,
and then broke into gallop in the sof,
dust. Their feet were almost noise.
less. and as they rounded huge
boulder that made a sharp curve in
the road, kneeling figure seemed ia
them to rise from under the horses
feet and turn frightened face to them
so suddenly were they upon hor.
Jordan drew up his slack bride, but
too late. for the horses knees had
struck the girl and she fell heavily for
ward, rolling into the deep dust of the
road. With an exclamation of horror,
Jordan flung himself from his horse
and followed her. Hayward was
scarcely behind him. Together they
lifted the senseless form and carried i.
to the shade of the roadside.
..Hcr head struck that stone and
she's stunned" said Hayward. sooth-
ingly, noting the anguish of his friends
face.
mo. no; she is killed. have killed
her. Oh. my God! Why have lived
to take the life of fellow creature?
am murderer. There. dash the water
in her face. Nancy, don't you know
me? Nancy. open your eyes"
But the eyes were fast closed and the
form was limp and still. With trem-
bling hands Jordan knelt by her side.
bathing her face with water that Hay
ward had brought from the spring near
by, while Hayward, doing what he
could, looked at them with compass
sionate face.
"She certainly can not be seriously
hurt John; such little fall. Itwasn't
your fault, anyhow. Don't mind it,
old fellow; she is some poor creature
whose life was hardly worth living at
the best; poor and ignorant and dull.
Even if she is dead, and I'm sure she
isn't. death is not such calamity"
But Jordan's face was deathly pale, a
cold perspiration had started upon his
forehead, and his lips quiyered piteous-
ly. 1t had never, in his pastorate, yet
been required of him to stand at the
gate of death and usher the parting
soul into the solemn mystery. he had
but once stood at the coffin head and
spoken to the stricken mourners. Now
before his eyes lay the silent form of
the member from whom he had hoped
the, most, stricken down, rs he felt in
his morbid sensitiveness, by his own
hand in criminal carelessness. "Hay-
Yard," he said. with a low, unsteady
voice, show shall take her to her
mother? She is my hostess at this
charge. the only daughter. o, Nancy.
don't you hear me?'
Hayward had made a bandage of his
handkerchief and was binding the
bleeding cut upon the side of her head
a little back of the temple, smoothing
away the tawny hair, while Jordan had
not ceased to battle her face and chafe
her hands. Both paused suddenly at
convulsive movement of the brown
hands and sudden parting of the
lips. Hayward exclaimed in subdued
triumph: "See there, l told you!" but
Jordan shook his head. 1T is only
muscular, she does not breath"